property
avulsion
Avulsion is the sudden and perceptible loss or shift of land caused by a natural event, such as a flood, storm, or a river abruptly changing its course. Because the change happens quickly and visibly, the general rule is that property boundaries do not move with the water; the original owner usually keeps title to land that was torn away or isolated, if it can be identified.
- Exam tip
- Exams pair avulsion (sudden loss) against erosion (gradual loss) and accretion (gradual gain). Look for the word sudden or a single storm event to identify avulsion.
- Example
- A hurricane causes a river to cut a new channel overnight, leaving three acres of a farmer's land on the opposite bank. The farmer generally still owns those three acres.
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Last verified: 2026-10-23